Sarah's gut hanging out,lol :)
And the littlest princess< my niece
August 7, 2008
A Dress up Day
I found a box of dressup clothes at a resale shop for $6. They are enjoying them :)
Sarah's gut hanging out,lol :)
And the littlest princess< my niece
Sarah's gut hanging out,lol :)And the littlest princess< my niece
August 5, 2008
The Fascinating Woman
I just finished reading this. I have the actual book, Fascinating Womanhood, but I enjoyed this shorter version so much better since it is written like a fictional story. It has so inspired me to do even better in my marriage. I will read it many more times I am sure.
We have a great marriage, but I can always use a refresher regarding my role and what about me fascinates my husband. Enjoy!
We have a great marriage, but I can always use a refresher regarding my role and what about me fascinates my husband. Enjoy!
August 4, 2008
My Challah bread recipe
The Famous Challah
2.5 cups warm water
1 T yeast
4 T vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey
1 T salt
2 eggs, beaten
7-8 cups of flour or more
1 egg for wash
seeds for topping- sesame, poppy etc.
Ok, this recipe is not for beginner bread makers. This makes a sticky dough and can be hard to manage. I HATE sticky dough, but the last time I made it I used more flour than recommended and it was much easier to work with.
Put the warm water in a bowl and sprinkle yeast on top. Allow to sit a few minutes. Next add oil, honey, salt and eggs and mix well. (I use a mixer or whisk) Do not forget the salt- the bread will taste very bland without it. Start adding flour one cup at a time and mix well. I use unbleached all purpose flour by the way. Soon you'll have to start mixing by hand. What I do, since the dough is very sticky still, is heavily sprinkle it with flour in the bowl, on top of the dough, then coat my hands in flour and pull the dough to the middle whiles scraping the flour down the sides of the bowl to sort of coat the whole thing in flour. That probably doesn't make sense. Work in enough flour till you get a smooth, elastic, slightly sticky dough.
Grease a bowl and the top of the dough and cover with damp cloth. Allow to rise till doubled in bulk. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Punch dough down and divide in two parts, shape dough as desired and allow to rise until doubled. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with desired topping. Bake 25-30 minutes, until top is a deep brown and the loaves sound hollow when the bottom is tapped.
That's it.
A note on shaping. Some people will just make a three strand braid, some do four (don't know that one), some make a big three strand braid and smaller one and lay the small one on top of the big one. I've never done that. The six strand looks the neatest and is really fun. I've done it about 20 times now, so it's not a big deal to me, but it was a little tricky at first. However you must remember, it's only bread dough. So what if you mess up? Just keep trying :)
2.5 cups warm water
1 T yeast
4 T vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey
1 T salt
2 eggs, beaten
7-8 cups of flour or more
1 egg for wash
seeds for topping- sesame, poppy etc.
Ok, this recipe is not for beginner bread makers. This makes a sticky dough and can be hard to manage. I HATE sticky dough, but the last time I made it I used more flour than recommended and it was much easier to work with.
Put the warm water in a bowl and sprinkle yeast on top. Allow to sit a few minutes. Next add oil, honey, salt and eggs and mix well. (I use a mixer or whisk) Do not forget the salt- the bread will taste very bland without it. Start adding flour one cup at a time and mix well. I use unbleached all purpose flour by the way. Soon you'll have to start mixing by hand. What I do, since the dough is very sticky still, is heavily sprinkle it with flour in the bowl, on top of the dough, then coat my hands in flour and pull the dough to the middle whiles scraping the flour down the sides of the bowl to sort of coat the whole thing in flour. That probably doesn't make sense. Work in enough flour till you get a smooth, elastic, slightly sticky dough.
Grease a bowl and the top of the dough and cover with damp cloth. Allow to rise till doubled in bulk. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Punch dough down and divide in two parts, shape dough as desired and allow to rise until doubled. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with desired topping. Bake 25-30 minutes, until top is a deep brown and the loaves sound hollow when the bottom is tapped.
That's it.
A note on shaping. Some people will just make a three strand braid, some do four (don't know that one), some make a big three strand braid and smaller one and lay the small one on top of the big one. I've never done that. The six strand looks the neatest and is really fun. I've done it about 20 times now, so it's not a big deal to me, but it was a little tricky at first. However you must remember, it's only bread dough. So what if you mess up? Just keep trying :)
Simple living?
I've been reading a lot about simplifying life lately. It seems to be a common thread amongst everyone- the desire to slow down and not live so fast paced. The world seems to turn so swiftly these days, our lives are cram packed with stuff to do and literal stuff to deal with. Even in my own little home, life seems to spin out of control at times. So much to do!
In my mind simplifying meant a lot of things that probably weren't really simple. Making my own everything, sewing my own everything, downsizing our stuff etc. I realize now that it's ok to take help from the store and still live simply :)
I realize it's ok to have a simple meal and still be a good cook. It's ok to use paper plates and still be frugal. It's ok to use disposable diapers and still be resourceful. My husband and I have talked about it and this is what we have decided. Since I am now taking care of 4 little girls 5yrs and under, I will focus on the basics- dishes, cooking, laundry, picking up around the house. In the evenings I plan to quickly clean up around the house- spot mopping, bathrooms etc. On Saturday mornings, dh and the whole family will take a couple of hours and wipe out the major house cleaning. This was his idea :) And he is a GOOD cleaner- better than me :)
I have also made a basic menu for all meals that I will stick with for 2-3 weeks, then change. That way I don't have to make a new plan each week. I will still make our bread and keep up with all my cultures (kefir and kombucha). I won't know how each day shall go until after this week, since I need to mesh Emily's schedule with ours first. At some point we will NEED an outing so we don't get cabin fever. It's so HOT though!!!
This is a huge burden lifted off of me. I now know that my responsibilities each day are caring for children, picking up the house, meals, clothes and kitchen clean up. That's it. I know that I will have a team of helpers at the end of the week to deep clean our house and keep it nice. I will also be making some money to help with bills and extra things we need/want like the lovely loose tea we adore, nutritional supplements, stuff for Leiah's new room, clothes etc. Maybe we will get some TV channels eventually. But, we won't have time to watch it because...
Life will be picking up pace. I have an extra child, Leiah will start kindergarten, we are starting a fall garden and we're about to get a flock of chickens. A whole new life, ha,ha. But, we feel confident that this is what we should do and are prepared to work hard. That's what it all boils down to huh? You want something, you work hard at it.
Oh, and I knew as soon as I posted that I was taking a break that I would suddenly be posting all the time. I'm weird like that :) Morning quiet time is about over now, must go.
In my mind simplifying meant a lot of things that probably weren't really simple. Making my own everything, sewing my own everything, downsizing our stuff etc. I realize now that it's ok to take help from the store and still live simply :)
I realize it's ok to have a simple meal and still be a good cook. It's ok to use paper plates and still be frugal. It's ok to use disposable diapers and still be resourceful. My husband and I have talked about it and this is what we have decided. Since I am now taking care of 4 little girls 5yrs and under, I will focus on the basics- dishes, cooking, laundry, picking up around the house. In the evenings I plan to quickly clean up around the house- spot mopping, bathrooms etc. On Saturday mornings, dh and the whole family will take a couple of hours and wipe out the major house cleaning. This was his idea :) And he is a GOOD cleaner- better than me :)
I have also made a basic menu for all meals that I will stick with for 2-3 weeks, then change. That way I don't have to make a new plan each week. I will still make our bread and keep up with all my cultures (kefir and kombucha). I won't know how each day shall go until after this week, since I need to mesh Emily's schedule with ours first. At some point we will NEED an outing so we don't get cabin fever. It's so HOT though!!!
This is a huge burden lifted off of me. I now know that my responsibilities each day are caring for children, picking up the house, meals, clothes and kitchen clean up. That's it. I know that I will have a team of helpers at the end of the week to deep clean our house and keep it nice. I will also be making some money to help with bills and extra things we need/want like the lovely loose tea we adore, nutritional supplements, stuff for Leiah's new room, clothes etc. Maybe we will get some TV channels eventually. But, we won't have time to watch it because...
Life will be picking up pace. I have an extra child, Leiah will start kindergarten, we are starting a fall garden and we're about to get a flock of chickens. A whole new life, ha,ha. But, we feel confident that this is what we should do and are prepared to work hard. That's what it all boils down to huh? You want something, you work hard at it.
Oh, and I knew as soon as I posted that I was taking a break that I would suddenly be posting all the time. I'm weird like that :) Morning quiet time is about over now, must go.
August 2, 2008
Wonderful bread
I haven't made this bread since the Good Friday feast. I had to make 8 large loaves so I guess I got burned out :) I decided to make some and bless my neighbors. When I do something, I go all the way. So, I set out to find the traditional method of braiding the challah bread, which is with six pieces of dough. I happened across a video and learned how to do it. It's not really hard, but I am a perfectionist and wanted to get it just right. After much practicing, I can finally do it without watching the video and these came out great!
These were two mini loaves. I gave those away and made another big one to keep for ourselves. However half of it was given away too :)
After baking. This bread is a lot of fun to make. It's so funny to see people's reactions when they see it and when they eat it. Everyone is so surprised at how good it is and just can't stop eating it! You know why? Because there are 3 eggs and a half a cup of honey in it :) I like to make it just for the effect it has on others, lol.
I will post my recipe another time- it's in my binder and I don't want to get it. Lazy huh?r
These were two mini loaves. I gave those away and made another big one to keep for ourselves. However half of it was given away too :)
After baking. This bread is a lot of fun to make. It's so funny to see people's reactions when they see it and when they eat it. Everyone is so surprised at how good it is and just can't stop eating it! You know why? Because there are 3 eggs and a half a cup of honey in it :) I like to make it just for the effect it has on others, lol.I will post my recipe another time- it's in my binder and I don't want to get it. Lazy huh?r
Taking a little break
I am going to take a bit of a break from blogging. My life has gotten increasingly busy right now and I just can't work it in much.I've been taking Leiah to all kinds of doctors and doing all sorts of stuff to get her into kindergarten with an aid. (testing etc.) Monday I start keeping my niece so I will have 4 girls under age 5. It'll take a little while to figure out how our days will go and stuff.
I have also been painting and sewing, and the blog just doesn't always fit in there :) I am here, just don't have enough time to put something great together :) Keep coming back because you never know when I'll have something up. After school starts and our vacation is done, life should slow down a tiny bit, or settle into a more predictable rhythm. Let's hope so anyways :)
Blessings to you all!
Jessica
I have also been painting and sewing, and the blog just doesn't always fit in there :) I am here, just don't have enough time to put something great together :) Keep coming back because you never know when I'll have something up. After school starts and our vacation is done, life should slow down a tiny bit, or settle into a more predictable rhythm. Let's hope so anyways :)
Blessings to you all!
Jessica
August 1, 2008
I am LIVING this!!!! wahhh :(
YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN TEXAS IN JULY WHEN...
The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
The trees are whistling for the dogs.
The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
Hot water now comes out of both taps. (SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TRUE!!!!)
Especially from the water hoses.
You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron....
The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.
You discover that in July, it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car..
You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.
You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.
Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end
up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"
You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out
and add butter, salt and pepper.
Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying
boiled eggs.
The cows are giving evaporated milk.
Ah, what a place to call home...
God Bless Our State of TEXAS !
*************************************************************************************
This is so true. I will also add the when the breeze blows it feels like someone has turned a hairdryer on you; the pool offers no relief because it feels like bathwater; everyone sighs with relief when it's only 77 degrees at 7am; I am no longer even trying to straighten my hair because of the humidity; our poor air conditioner just can't keep up in the late afternoons; I sweated all morning and had to take a shower. I actually got some sun (not a bad burn) just from standing in the yard for 15 minutes.
If you've never been to Texas in the summer, ya just ain't gotta clue. Lord, speed up August and September so we can have some cooler weather please!!
Ok, I'm done whining. Sorry to neglect you all. This has been a crazy busy week. I hope to go into more details later, but I can't right now. Have a good Friday!
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